​Lately I feel like I am on a scavenger hunt trying to find clues as to where I fit in. I wonder if I am the only 55 plus person that feels this way! We were born between the years 1946-1964 which defines us as Boomers. For eighteen years we broke the record in terms of increased population. Am I the only baby boomer who is not ready to be called a Senior?

​To quote the definition of the noun senior citizen from the Merriam Webster online dictionary: "an old person who is at least a certain age (such as 55)" To be perfectly honest I think this sentence is self destructive for any age let alone 55.

​I feel anyone 80 or above who CHOOSES to be called a senior should wear that title proudly for they were our inspirational teachers and I hope to be as wise when I get to their age. I suppose it is a nicer word than elderly or old fogy however I personally do not feel I have travelled the road long enough to have that title myself. I honestly don't think I ever will.

​I wish I could go back to the good old days where I felt part of a community. Neighbors took care and listened for each other and I felt settled and at peace. I am now in an apartment community where no sooner do I meet a neighbor and feel comfortable they are moving out and new people are taking their place. As much as I don't like being called a senior citizen I probably am one of the old fogies that reside here. Despite the fact I am young at heart and dress real cute I am still the grandmother at "game night" at the community clubhouse with the younger residents.

​It was suggested we try leasing an apartment in a fifty five plus community as there may be more that I have in common with. I love activity and typically these places offer classes, trips and parties. I do not type the next line to offend anyone so please forgive me if I do; Upon taking the tour there were no residents near my age of 58. It was the home of the baby boomers parents.

​My sister and I experienced the same result when we joined the Church 55 plus group. Once again we were the youngest people there. They did not know what table to sit us at for everyone was in their normal spot. After they got over the shock of seeing the two of us they began calling us cute! Please do not misunderstand, I love spending time with all ages and we had loads of fun but once in a while I would love for a 55 plus category to have more boomers. ​The span for the term "senior" and "55 plus" are too broad for me!

I hope to have at least 20 or MORE healthy years left. I always thought that was a long time until I placed 20 raisins in my hand and saw how fast they were gobbled up and it hit me that is really a small number. I actually wanted 20 MORE!!!

​I decided I needed a break from the scavenger hunt game and fitting in and just be Donna. I gave myself ​a week of being a kid again and did all the things I loved when young. This morning I pulled out my hula hoop and cranked up the Bee Gees Night Fever music and exercised away. I always loved to sing and still do and I am not bragging but I can still keep the hula hoop spinning quite well despite my "senior" title. I decided to order some adult relaxing coloring books and staying in the lines with my 200 brightly colored sharpee markers returned me to happy childhood memories. I went to the library and read BOOKS, and wrote with PENS and when I wanted to get thoughts for this post I TYPED and pretended my keyboard was the old rickety machine I had when I first started working at Chase Manhattan Bank in the 80's. Back then you had to be careful to hit the correct key as once the image was on the page there was no backspace or delete button to remove it. I know these are things only die hard boomers will remember.

​I realize I am showing my age in the paragraph above. ​I have no problem getting older; as a matter of fact I love being fifty five plus. I love telling the "youngsters" about life. I am more fit, confident and happy than I ever was. My Mother was a hard worker and deserved retiring and becoming a Senior but I am a totally different person than she was. My Mother in all fairness did not have time to worry about working out, being stylish or funny. She went to the doctor only when she had to. Her focus was hard work and us. She and all my friends parents deserve to wear the Senior title proudly. They have a place where they all fit in.

​I do not feel boomers have a category for which we fit in. ​I have baby boomer best friends who are caring for their senior parents every single day. I have boomer friends who are caring for their grand-children every day. I have boomer friends who are working two jobs for they cannot afford to live on just one. These friends are not seniors believe me.

​I was happy a month ago when I saw a Tribute to the Bee Gees special on television. I smiled from ear to ear singing all the songs for which I knew every word. I was happy to see younger artists performing the old classics. Maybe our generation is slowly figuring out where we fit in after all.

​I am proud of being almost 58 and I would be lying if I said I did not appreciate receiving a discount on Tuesdays at the supermarket and nail salon. I would totally understand if the stores decided to make the age older moving forward but if it is available to me I will take it. There are many perks to getting older!

​I think every age should act and feel young as long as they can. I know that it is healthy for older adults to be around younger people. I think it is important for younger people to be around older adults. We all can learn so much from one another.

​My dream every now and then is to have a place where I can find a few of the millions of boomers out there and get together.

​For now I will do my best each day to workout, go for walks, color, sing, be kind, caring, funny, crazy, silly but most important loving. ​ ​A word cannot change what I am inside. I will end the scavenger hunt and buckle up my belt and continue on this wonderful journey of fifty five plus. I will continue to be young at heart!

Every person alive shares the need to have someone to walk with through good times and bad, have someone to encourage and challenge us to be the best version of ourselves as possible. No matter our title deep down we are all the same. None of us can let words define us. We spent our entire youth trying to fit in. It is now time to simply be ourselves.

​I am fifty five plus and thanks to all of those born between 1946-1964 I am not alone. We are the boomers!!! With so many of us how in the world can we help but not fit in. We are the examples for future generations. Let's teach them the colorful new definition of the word Senior just like the generations before us taught us so much.

​It wont be long before we will be fitting into the inspirational category. ​Let us enjoy each one happily and make these the best days of our lives!

I think that's why I like blogging so much - all these fantastic Midlife women sharing their lives and encouraging each other. It might not be face to face, but it's so affirming.
I'm not into social gatherings so I don't miss the connections there, I have several friends in my age group and a lovely husband and that seems to be enough for now. I'm not ready to be a senior citizen for another couple of decades.

Hi Leanne, You are so correct about blogging. I love sharing stories and even if I do not feel I fit in somehow the therapy of hitting the keys makes me feel better. I love your website and actually commented on an article today. My husband and I have so many friends back in New York. We moved here to Georgia 9 months ago. Luckily for me there is social media,telephones and airplanes. I'm heading" home" for a few days next week. Thank you for taking the time to read this and comment. We may not be face to face but I appreciate your taking the time more than you realize.

I can so relate! I recently returned to my hometown after many years and am not finding my place either. Even online I sometimes feel like the odd girl out - don't have grandkids so the grandmothers don't include me but my kids are young adults so the younger mommies don't think I'm relevant either. And the same with age. I've retired from my original career but am still working (at home). Seems like there are so many ways to feel out of place - both age and situational.

Hi Shelley, Thank you for sharing your story with me. I think at one time or another we have all felt like we don't fit in. Like I said in the article, we all feel supported when we connect with others. We all must stick together. I hope you come back and visit. We are all on this journey together. Thank you for taking the time to read this and commenting. It means more than you realize.

Hi Donna, I hear what you are saying. I am 60 in a couple of months but don't feel it at all. Like you I'm not sure where I fit but my attitude is just to enjoy life and be who I am. I'm fortunate to have friends in a range of age groups and the young ones treat me the same as each other. My goal is to be fit and fabulous so I enjoy running with my friends and working out. I am slowly adjusting to retirement (5 years now) because it was a huge adjustment from working full time to not having to be anywhere at any particular time. That is a reason I started my blog. I love that you grabbed your hula hoop and listened to the Bee Gees. Don't worry about where you fit in just be you and that is special enough. Have a great weekend.

Hi Sue. First let me begin by saying you are the most "Sizzling" near 60 year old I know. I am a fan of your website and facebook page. You do an excellent job of being both fit and fabulous and are an inspiration to all of us. You are 100% correct-enjoy life and be who you are!!!Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and commenting. It means a lot. I hope you have a great weekend too!

I wrote about aging, in a way, myself--looking at how culture tries to shame us about feeling older.

I've been reading the book, This Chair Rocks, An Anti-Aging Manifesto, by Ashton Applewhite. She uses the term 'olders'. I don't use any term, I'm simply 62. For me trying to label myself or find my group is limiting. I'd just prefer to go about my way doing whatever pleases me.

Hi Walker. Thank you so much for taking the time to both read this article and commenting. I think trying to shame us about feeling older is terribly wrong. I did not mean to imply that we should limit ourselves to any group as I truly feel all ages have things to teach. I so enjoy spending time with all ages. The point of my writing the article was to suggest we may need to scale down the 55 plus category. For me this is a broad span for groups, etc to find common interests should anyone like myself who once in a while may like to attend one. You are correct, doing whatever pleases you in sound advice. Thank you again for sharing.

What a great post!! I'm in my early 50s and am constantly amazed at the differences in people at the same age. Like you, I am a "young" 51 and most people are shocked when they learn my age. I have kids, grandkids and work at a high school and I think that is a big part of it. When you are constantly surrounded by younger people you have to keep up, so to speak.

Hi Dianna. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on this post. I agree, when we have young people around we do have to keep up. I sometimes think anyone under 30 considers 50plus OLD lol....We really must all stick together to change that false illusion.
By the way, I just popped onto your website and read your article "When I grow up"....I actually shared it on my fb page....50plusstickingtogether.com It was a great article.
Thank you for stopping by to read this and hope you will do so again soon!

My husband and I are both 66 and last week when visiting with our grand son in law her made the comment that "we were the most tech savvy old people he knew". We have had so much fun out of this, I said I didn't know I was old till he told me. lol I always think when we go places for "seniors" and we are the youngest there, that the people our age must be doing something really fun somewhere and no one told us. lol

Hi Victoria. Hey....At least you are high tech for a "senior" lol.....I love it!!!! We "young" seniors must stick together for sure. My goal is to try to get more of us young seniors to stop having fun other places and tell us where the heck they are .lol.....If you find any of them please let me know.
I appreciate your taking the time to read this article and commenting. I also love your site.....how sweet that you blog with your daughter. I think that is beautiful.
Thank you again for stopping by and hopefully you will come back again soon.

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jodie filogomo

6/11/2017 06:40:25 pm

That's the same experience we had at a 55+ building! Although we laughed that at least these women were the niche my blog is all about!!
It's nice to find others the same age as ourselves, but I also love the fact that I learn so much from the younger generations and the older ones too!!
Jodie
www.jtouchofstyle.com

Hi Jodie. Thank you for taking the time to read this and respond. I totally agree. I learn so much for all ages as well.....By the way, I just went onto your website facebook page...I love it.. I actually am thinking of buying a cold shoulder shirt after seeing it on your page. Hey, at our ages it is fun to explore. Thank you again for reading and I hope you will return again real soon. Maybe even visit my facebook page too!!!

Hi Donna, I really enjoyed your post and can relate to everything you've said. It's a funny age indeed. I'm 56 and was made redundant from y job last year and hadn't really planned on retirement for a while yet. It was hard at first, more due to the way it was all done, but I'm now enjoying myself immensely. My husband retired earlier this year so we have lots of freedom. My daughters are all grown up with no children of their own yet. 55+ is not OLD and we have many years of life still to live. Take care and keep on doing what you're doing!

Hi Debbie. Thank you so much for your kind words on this post. I am sorry to hear that you were "forced" into retirement. I actually had a neighbor just last month who is our age tell me the exact thing happened to her and she was devastated. Very sad. BUT, you turned the situation into a positive which is another trait of those our age. We find the smiles in the frowns for sure. I took a peek at your website and I will say I love it!!!!!. Your pictures are breathtaking. I will be visiting again for sure. To quote the old childhood line, It Takes One To Know One, I am going to give it an adult spin and repeat your line to me. KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING. Thank you again for commenting. It means a lot.

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My name is Donna Ryan and I have always thrived on inspiration. I love reading it everywhere I can find it. I am 58 and it has been a journey with many twists and turns. I invite all 50+ women to join me in discussions on this second chapter. Our road ahead is fun and exciting because these truly are the best days of our lives.